Eugene Bareman, the coach of MMA Fighter Israel Adesanya, expressed relief and happiness after Adesanya’s victory over rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287, as the win had been a long sought-after goal for them.
Eugene Bareman is accustomed to seeing various antics from Israel Adesanya, but the fighter’s walkout at UFC 287 left him somewhat perplexed. Adesanya’s coach appeared on The MMA Hour to discuss the circumstances surrounding his incredible revenge knockout over Alex Pereira. The entrance had Bareman and his team questioning if something was off with “The Last Stylebender.” Bareman noticed uncharacteristic behavior from Adesanya during the walkout, such as greeting the crowd and visiting training partners before entering the cage, actions he never does. Bareman and another coach exchanged concerned glances and questioned if everything was okay.
Bareman approached Adesanya to ensure he was calm and focused before the fight. He reminded Adesanya that he was a “mastermind” and should remain cool, calm, and collected in the face of increased risks in their strategy. Adesanya had acknowledged during their eight-week training that this fight would involve more risks, and Bareman wanted to emphasize the importance of clear-minded focus rather than relying on animal instincts to knock Pereira out.
In the first round against Pereira, Bareman liked what he saw and all three judges scored the round for the challenger. Adesanya ultimately found the finish in the second round, knocking Pereira out with a pair of hammer right hands. Earlier, Bareman had told Adesanya that Pereira was falling for everything, prompting the fighter to open up his offense. The tactic involved instilling confidence in Adesanya that Pereira could not distinguish between when he was leading and feinting, leaving him vulnerable.
Finally achieving bragging rights over Pereira, whom Adesanya had lost to at UFC 281 and twice in previous kickboxing contests, brought feelings of happiness and relief for Bareman and his fighter. Their rivalry dates back to 2016, with fights in China, Brazil, and twice in the U.S. (New York and Miami). As Adesanya received medical attention after the fight, they shared a moment of relief and weightlessness. They had traveled the world to battle Pereira and ultimately succeeded in defeating him, a feeling that Bareman described as floating.